Jharkhand issues strict environmental rules for Durga Puja

The Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) has issued strict environmental guidelines for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations across the state, including Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, and Palamu. The directives aim to protect natural water bodies from contamination during the festival.

Key regulations include a total ban on idols made from Plaster of Paris (POP), thermocol, or resin fiber. Instead, committees must use eco-friendly idols crafted from natural clay. To prevent the use of harmful chemical dyes, committees are encouraged to use artisans registered or authorized by local municipal bodies.

Regarding waste management, every puja pandal is required to maintain three separate bins for organic waste, non-organic/plastic waste, and ritual materials such as flowers and leaves. Committees must remove decorative items, clothing, and garlands from idols before immersion to ensure only clay is released into water sources. Additionally, local authorities are tasked with cleaning immersion sites within 24 hours and are prohibited from burning solid waste at these locations.